Guest guest Posted August 18, 1999 Report Share Posted August 18, 1999 >Overseas Friends of the BJP (USA) ........... Voice: (718) 271-0453 >54-15, 108th St. ............................ Fax: (718) 271-1906 >Corona, NY 11368............................ WWW:http://www.ofbjp.org > BJP's Website: http://www.bjp.org > >bjp-l-digest Wednesday, August 18 1999 Title: PM's address to >the Nation >Author: Editorial >Publication: Daily Excelsior >August 17, 1999 > >Prime Minister AB Vajpayee during his address to the nation from the >ramparts >of Red Fort on the occasion of 53 Independence Day makes it amply clear >that >national security occupies top priority. He elaborates the same by >informing >the nation that Agni-II missile is being mass produced for induction in the >Army. This missile was test fired after the previous Governments capped it >for almost five years. The predecessor Government had termed the Agni-I >test >firing as only a Technology Demonstrator. There is no denying the fact that >the >entire project was abandoned under pressure to which three successive >Governments led by Narasimha Rao, Devegowda and IK Gujral succumbed to the >detriment of national security. This happened despite the fact that >Pakistan >had received M-11 nuclear capable missile from China in semi-knocked down >condition while North Korea has supplied full technology and equipment to >Pakistan for several variants of missiles. Agni-II is an improvement on >Agni-I in terms of range, accuracy, payload and can not only hit any city >in >Pakistan even if fired from down South but also it takes within its range >all >important cities and vital centres in China if positioned near northern or >eastern borders. Further, it can carry nuclear warhead. It is obvious that >conventional warhead for this type of missile is a frivolous exercise. It >is >meant to carry only nuclear warhead. From this it follows that appropriate >nuclear weapon has been readied without as much saying a word about it. Its >induction in the army would provide authentic nuclear deterrent and enemy >would be hard put to launch any nuclear misadventure, more so because >Agni-II >can be carried by mobile launchers and thus its locations remain top secret >during actual war conditions as also peace-time. >The second significant point raised by Prime Minister relates to dialogue >with Pakistan. He minces no words that transborder terrorism has been >accelerated by Pakistan ever since its defeat in Kargil and that Pakistan >has >a long term plan to take within its ambit entire India and not J&K alone. >He >thus makes it amply clear that unless Pakistan stops training terrorists, >organising their camps and sending them to India to kill innocent men, >women >and children, there is no fun in having any dialogue with Pakistan. >Conducive >atmosphere has to be created and Pakistan must demonstrate its sincerity >for >living as a peaceful neighbour to make any dialogue a meaningful exercise. >He >thus warns Pakistan to desist from all such nefarious acts as it would >fetch >it nothing as India is ready to foil such evil designs and take all steps >to >safeguard national security. >India, he said, was ready to move to any extent >to restore peace. ``We are eager for peace but >also ready for war,'' the PM said. > >Advocating a jump in defence expenditure, the PM said that a well-equipped Army was necessary for >the safety of the nation, adding that an ideal >combination of `shastra'(weapons) and `shaastra' >(wisdom) was necessary for peace and development. While all other accolades and promises have been avoided from his address >because India is in election-mode and eagle eyes of Election Commission >take >note and action on any such promises, Prime Minister does mention some of >the >achievements of his Government on the economic front. One can give full >marks >to Vajpayee Government for keeping the economy in sound health despite >highly >volatile market conditions in South East Asia and other world markets. The >rupee has remained rock steady against dollar. Our foreign reserves are at >all time record of 33 billion dollars. Inflation has dipped below 2.0 which >is record for the last twenty years and food production has gone up to >reach >record of 200 million tons in 1998-99. This is despite the fact that there >were alarming signals from world over, South Asia in particular and the two >month long Kargil war. Resilience of the economy stands manifested in that >Government has been able to spend additional 2000 crore on Kargil war >without >imposing any further tax burden. >Soundness of economy has been confirmed on Saturday during the CCII meet >where all top economists and businessmen exuded enough of confidence that >current growth rate in industrial production would be maintained and it >would >be possible to achieve more than 6% growth in GDP. >To escape any criticism from EC or the opposition parties, Prime reassures >the minorities that India is a secular nation and minorities would be given >adequate opportunities to allow them to play significant role in nation >building. The second promise is empowerment of women by reiterating that >33% >reservation for women are very much on his mind and the agenda would be >pursued. >All in all Prime Minister mentions his vision of India which would be a >power >to reckon with and backwardness besides poverty removed from the country >which would be free of want and hunger. Prime Minister who delivered short >speech precisely because like his predecessors, he possibly cannot offer >accolades or announce more schemes when election is less than month away. > > _____________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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